7. Return to the Halls

Thrud finds nothing usable amongst the litter. It’s all been discarded for a reason - broken, decayed, missing pieces, etc.

The individual strands of the cobwebs are distinctly thicker than those you would expect from a normal spider. Whilst they are densely woven, they also look quite old.
The opening is not "cave"-like (in the sense that a cave is a natural rock feature). Rather, it has been carved into the rock face with a high degree of skill and precision. Surfaces are smooth and corners sharp. The craftsmanship is of a similar quality to that in the halls beneath the pyramid.

The side passages to the left and right, as far as you can see, are level. Of the limited sections that are visible, they neither ascend nor descend. However, beyond the first couple of feet, the cobwebs obscure what lies beyond.

---
3:00 pm, Totsday 25th Lucrios (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 2: 13/13, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 2: 7/7, 60’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 2: 14/14, 60’
---
Eric, Labourer, 120’
Hector, Linkboy, 90’
---
Billie, Mule: 120’

Link to Jacky’s maps …

Grim helps burn the webs to clear a dungeonous path!

With a suggestion that they cover their noses with wet rags, Jacky stands well back from the blaze once it's lit.

The cobwebs burn, albeit slowly and with much black smoke, which pushes out towards the entrance. Given your position, high up the cliff, you’ve probably created quite a smoke signal!

It takes two turns for the smoke to clear sufficiently so that you’re able to get a look at what they were concealing. Branching from the main entrance chamber are two 5’ x 5’ passageways, one on the left and one on the right. Each opens up into a 20’ x 20’ side chamber. The chamber on the right appears empty, but the one on the left has a skeleton slumped against the far wall.

The skeleton is of a dwarf. He or she is still clad in chain mail and is clutching a war hammer in their bony hand. Around their neck is a 4" long oblong of carved stone on a leather cord. A rotting pouch lies just to their side. Most noticeably, they are wearing a pair of remarkably fresh-looking burgundy-coloured leather half boots, with fancy blue-tooled designs.

---
3:20 pm, Totsday 25th Lucrios (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 2: 13/13, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 2: 7/7, 60’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 2: 14/14, 60’
---
Eric, Labourer, 120’
Hector, Linkboy, 90’
---
Billie, Mule: 120’

Link to Jacky’s maps …

Grim stoops low at the fallen dwarf. A fallen fellow, our clerically-minded dwarf says somberly. Quickly uttering a quiet prayer for the fallen.
Grim inspects the interesting stone stranded around the skeleton’s neck.

Jacky watches the billowing smoke, eyebrows rising. "Um. Do you think the dragon might see that as a challenge?"

Grim immediately recognises the significance of the skeleton’s neckwear - it is a Dwarven Life-Stone. Through an enchantment known only to dwarven rune-smiths, life-stones are imbued with a power such that they glow with a low, yellow light so long as their owner lives. Should the owner die, the stone loses its enchantments. Life-stones allow trained dwarven delvers to locate missing members of a clan.

Life-stones are considered sacred by the clans, and great effort is expended to locate and recover the life-stones of dead clansmen. Most poignantly for Grim, this particular life-stone is carved from granite, indicating that this dwarf was a member of his ancestral clan. Runes carved into the life-stone identify the owner as "Grorim Granite".

(Clanless dwarves do not have life-stones; I’ll leave it up to you as to whether Grim has a life-stone or not).

---
3:20 pm, Totsday 25th Lucrios (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 2: 13/13, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 2: 7/7, 60’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 2: 14/14, 60’
---
Eric, Labourer, 120’
Hector, Linkboy, 90’
---
Billie, Mule: 120’

Link to Jacky’s maps …

Ella, despite her initial misgivings, is fascinated by the discoveries. She will take the time to point light at the ceiling of both chambers, hoping to determine if there are means of egress concealed among the shadows of the cavernous ceiling.

Grim pockets the life-stone. He was a member of meh clan. Grorim Granite. He’ll be honored in death as in life.
Following customary rites, Grim pays brief honor to his fallen kin. Then inspects the pouch.

Zach peers more closely at the deceased dwarves footwear.

They are carefully hewn stone chambers. The ceiling is not particularly high - no more than 8’. Hector’s torch gives you good visibility of your surroundings.

Grim picks up the pouch lying beside the dead dwarf. Inside is a vial filled with a light-blue powder laced with sparkling motes.

The dwarf’s boots are some of the finest that Zach has ever seen - pristine, supple, burgundy leather with blue detailing. They look new rather than something that has been sitting undisturbed in a cave for goodness knows how long.

---
3:20 pm, Totsday 25th Lucrios (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 2: 13/13, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 2: 7/7, 60’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 2: 14/14, 60’
---
Eric, Labourer, 120’
Hector, Linkboy, 90’
---
Billie, Mule: 120’

Link to Jacky’s maps …

Satisfied that the ceiling appeared solid, and no obvious signs of egress were apparent, she turned her attention to the corpse.

Jacky's eyes fall on the dead dwarf's footwear. Since the rest of the party seems to have no objection looting from the dead, he tugs one boot then the other free.

He'll hold them out to Zacharias. "See if they fit?"

As our dwarven fellow finished offering prayer for the fallen, Grim grasps his own life-stone. Uttering another brief prayer for his own safe-keeping, and that of the rest of Clan Granite.

He examines the blue powder, and then shows it to his magically-minded companions, for proper identification.

The dwarf's armour and hammer both look serviceable.

Zach is not the sharpest cheese in the cave, but even he knows that the boots' appearance is extraordinary. Turning to Jacky, Zach says "Joshua, doesn't it seem strange that the boots look so, so, new? I think there is something special about them, but knowing my luck, that would be some kind of curse. I wish there was a way to identify their nature."

Ellagel begins to remove the armor from the dwarven corpse.

With a shrug, Jacky tries on the boots.